Japan

Every Japan visa route, explained

Japan has a route for every purpose — short visits (visa-free or a Temporary Visitor visa), plus student, working and Specified Skilled Worker visas, family status, Digital Nomad and Highly Skilled Professional routes. Routes with verified step-by-step guides link straight to them; the rest link to the official MOFA pages.

The routes

Visit & tourism

Short-Term Stay (Temporary Visitor)

Short visits for tourism, business or visiting friends/relatives, up to 90 days with no paid work — visa-exempt or via a Temporary Visitor visa (sometimes through the JAPAN eVISA system).

Tourists, short-term business visitors and family visitors

29 verified step-by-step guides →

Study

Student visa

For college, pre-college and language-school students studying in Japan.

Students enrolled at a Japanese school or university

official page →

Work & business

Working visa

For engineers, specialists in humanities, instructors, researchers, medical and other professional employment.

Professionals employed by a Japanese organisation

official page →

Specified Skilled Worker (SSW)

For work-ready foreign nationals with expertise in designated industrial fields (SSW (i) and (ii)).

Skilled workers in designated labour-shortage sectors

official page →

Family & residence

Spouse or child of Japanese national

For spouses and biological children of Japanese nationals, and dependants of foreign residents.

Family members of Japanese nationals and residents

official page →

Other routes

Digital Nomad (Designated Activities)

Designated-activities status for remote workers and their family staying in Japan.

9 verified step-by-step guides →

Highly Skilled Professional

Points-based status giving preferential treatment to highly skilled foreign professionals.

High-scoring researchers, specialists and managers

official page →

Verified step-by-step guides

Grounded on official sources — documents, fees, timeline, every fact dated and linked.

Temporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay) (29)

🇩🇿 Algeria → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Algerian citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate (or an accredited travel agency) for where they live.

🇧🇩 Bangladesh → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Bangladeshi citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇧🇩 Bangladesh (in United States) → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Bangladeshi citizens living in the United States need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate covering where you live in the United States; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇨🇳 China → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Chinese citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇨🇳 China (in United States) → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Chinese citizens living in the United States need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate covering where you live in the United States; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇪🇬 Egypt → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Egyptian citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇪🇬 Egypt (in United States) → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Egyptian citizens living in the United States need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate covering where you live in the United States; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇪🇹 Ethiopia → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Ethiopian citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate (or an accredited travel agency) for where they live.

🇬🇭 Ghana → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Ghanaian citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate (or an accredited travel agency) for where they live.

🇮🇳 India → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Indian citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇮🇳 India (in United States) → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Indian citizens living in the United States need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate covering where you live in the United States; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇮🇩 Indonesia → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Indonesian citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇮🇩 Indonesia (in United States) → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Indonesian citizens living in the United States need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate covering where you live in the United States; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇲🇾 Malaysia → JapanVisit (visa exemption)

Malaysian citizens can visit Japan visa-free for up to 90 days — but only holders of an ICAO-compliant ePassport; without one you are advised to obtain a visa in advance.

🇲🇦 Morocco → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Moroccan citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate (or an accredited travel agency) for where they live.

🇳🇵 Nepal → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Nepali citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇳🇵 Nepal (in United States) → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Nepali citizens living in the United States need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate covering where you live in the United States; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇳🇬 Nigeria → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Nigerian citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate (or an accredited travel agency) for where they live.

🇵🇰 Pakistan → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Pakistani citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate (or an accredited travel agency) for where they live.

🇵🇭 Philippines → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Filipino citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇵🇭 Philippines (in United States) → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Filipino citizens living in the United States need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate covering where you live in the United States; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇷🇺 Russia → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Russian citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇷🇺 Russia (in United States) → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Russian citizens living in the United States need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate covering where you live in the United States; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Sri Lankan citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇱🇰 Sri Lanka (in United States) → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Sri Lankan citizens living in the United States need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate covering where you live in the United States; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇸🇪 Sweden → JapanVisit (visa exemption)

Swedish citizens can visit Japan visa-free — landing permission for a stay of up to 90 days is granted on arrival, with no visa to obtain in advance.

🇺🇸 United States → JapanVisit (visa exemption)

U.S. citizens can visit Japan visa-free for tourism — no visa is required for stays of less than 90 days; you receive landing permission on arrival.

🇻🇳 Vietnam (in United States) → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Vietnamese citizens living in the United States need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate covering where you live in the United States; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

🇻🇳 Vietnam → JapanTemporary Visitor visa (Short-Term Stay)

Vietnamese citizens need a Temporary Visitor visa for Japan — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate for where you live; a short stay is up to 90 days with no paid work.

Digital Nomad (Designated Activities) (9)

🇦🇺 Australia → JapanDigital Nomad (Designated Activities)

Australian citizens can apply for Japan's Digital Nomad visa (Designated Activities) — a 6-month stay for remote workers earning at least ¥10 million a year — at a Japanese embassy or consulate before travelling.

🇦🇺 Australia (in United States) → JapanDigital Nomad (Designated Activities)

Australian citizens living in the United States can apply for Japan's Digital Nomad visa (Designated Activities) — a 6-month stay for remote workers earning at least ¥10 million a year — at the Japanese embassy or consulate covering where you live in the United States, before travelling.

🇨🇦 Canada → JapanDigital Nomad (Designated Activities)

Canadian citizens can apply for Japan's Digital Nomad visa (Designated Activities) — a 6-month stay for remote workers earning at least ¥10 million a year — at a Japanese embassy or consulate before travelling.

🇨🇦 Canada (in United States) → JapanDigital Nomad (Designated Activities)

Canadian citizens living in the United States can apply for Japan's Digital Nomad visa (Designated Activities) — a 6-month stay for remote workers earning at least ¥10 million a year — at the Japanese embassy or consulate covering where you live in the United States, before travelling.

🇩🇪 Germany → JapanDigital Nomad (Designated Activities)

German citizens can apply for Japan's Digital Nomad visa (Designated Activities) — a 6-month stay for remote workers earning at least ¥10 million a year — at a Japanese embassy or consulate before travelling.

🇩🇪 Germany (in United States) → JapanDigital Nomad (Designated Activities)

German citizens living in the United States can apply for Japan's Digital Nomad visa (Designated Activities) — a 6-month stay for remote workers earning at least ¥10 million a year — at the Japanese embassy or consulate covering where you live in the United States, before travelling.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom → JapanDigital Nomad (Designated Activities)

British citizens can apply for Japan's Digital Nomad visa (Designated Activities) — a 6-month stay for remote workers earning at least ¥10 million a year — at a Japanese embassy or consulate before travelling.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom (in United States) → JapanDigital Nomad (Designated Activities)

British citizens living in the United States can apply for Japan's Digital Nomad visa (Designated Activities) — a 6-month stay for remote workers earning at least ¥10 million a year — at the Japanese embassy or consulate covering where you live in the United States, before travelling.

🇺🇸 United States → JapanDigital Nomad (Designated Activities)

American citizens can apply for Japan's Digital Nomad visa (Designated Activities) — a 6-month stay for remote workers earning at least ¥10 million a year — at a Japanese embassy or consulate before travelling.